Bogan’s Back! Former South Hills coach takes over at Maranatha

bogans
Steve Bogan, who won four CIF championships during a highly successful 20-year run at South Hills High School, was named the new varsity football head coach at Maranatha on Thursday.

Bogan replaces Jude Oliva, who stepped down last month after one season.

“Maranatha is a destination job for me,” said Bogan, who had shown interest in the Maranatha job two years ago when it was previously open. “When I believe that the lord is opening a door, and the time is right, I enter where I’m called.

“I feel that the environment on campus, the commitment to excellence and Maranatha’s focus on Christ aligns with how and I where I want to end my career.”

Bogan resigned from South Hills following the 2011 season. The move ended a wildly successful run that included four CIF championships, 13 league championships and a 32-12 record in the playoffs. He recently returned to coaching at South Hills, but at the freshman level.

Maranatha went 8-3 and won the Olympic League last season under Oliva. The school has been very aggressive in its push to build a top-flight athletics program. Last year, Maranatha hired Pasadena coaching legend Tim Tucker to head its boys basketball program.

Bogan inherits a program that looks ready to build on last year’s success. The Minutemen return one of the top players in the area in running back Caleb Devine. Also back is 3,000-yard passer Eli Snyder at quarterback.

Aram’s Take: Absolute coup by Maranatha. Bogan’s track record is just about unparalleled around these parts and he should be the long-term fit that Maranatha’s been needing to take things to the next level and beyond. Maranatha hasn’t publicly said so, but it’s clear they are trying to build the school through sports and having coaches like Bogan and Tucker around is proof of that. Could become quite the scary place considering how much Pasadena talent prefers to leave town and head to private schools … why go too far?

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